CCBR Business Review

7 Food conference discusses next generation nutrition and agribusiness B U S I N E S S N E W S THE UNIVERSITY OF Newcastle’s Central Coast Campus was the place for a two-day Food Sustainability Forum where the latest developments in food nutrition and agri- business were discussed. Held on the 17th and 18th June partici- pants heard how current research is creat- ing a next generation of sustainable food and nutrition opportunities. Eight leading keynote speakers in nutri- tion, food marketing, agribusiness, food sci- ence and technology, innovation, food per- ceptions and preferences, formulation and processing, genetics and agronomy from as far afield as Denmark heard how the food sector’s capabilities into the future will be enhanced through scientific research. Conference convenor, UON nutrition researcher, Dr Tamara Bucher said that the Central Coast Ourimbah Campus had been chosen as the Central Coast is home to over 50 food companies as well as being the centre of the UON Faculty of Science’s inter- nationally recognised centre of excellence in food innovation and production. Dr Bucher said, “the conference acted as a platform for engagement between these parties and we are looking forward to see what will grow from this in the future.” Due to the diversity of the food industry on the Central Coast and the research facili- ties at the Ourimbah Campus Dr Bucher said that the region could be labeled the ‘Silicon Valley of Food”. The university recently opened its Doctoral Training Centre in Food and Agribusiness at the Campus. Doctoral Training Centres are a part of the Newcastle Institute for Energy and Research (NOER) that provide industry embed- ded PhD programmes and training to produce outcomes between the university and industry. The Conference attracted over 140 registrations with some 80 attendees from aca- demia, industry and profes- sional organisations. “Most importantly, the con- ference acted as a platform for engagement between these parties and we are looking forward to seeing what will grow from this in the future. We have received very posi- tive feedback with requests to host this event again,” said Dr Bucher. Commenting on the success of the Conference, Central Coast Food Alliance Manager, Alex Blow said, “Mix of present- ers and attendees reinforced the depth of Agri-Food expertise within the University and the wider Agri-Food ecosystem on the Central Coast.” “The scale of the challenge to create more sustainable food systems is significant and there was a sense of urgency to take action. There was a feeling of optimism and energy to make a difference ,” he said. “I see potential for stronger collaboration between researchers and industry to trans- late research outcome into commercial initiatives. There’s a need to develop eco- Corporate Insolvency & Personal Bankruptcy Specialists www.shawgidley.com.au systems which harness different capabilities and this is the role for organisations like the Central Coast Food Alliance to bring stake- holders together to work collaboratively to solve problems and unlock opportunities,” Mr Blow said. Conference participants at a presentation Dr Nienke de Vlieger who assisted with organising the Conference (l) with Dr Tamara Bucher CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW AUGUST 2021